verb
to hire, to queue
B1
Anstellen has two main senses: non‑reflexive 'anstellen' = to hire (or to switch on) and reflexive 'sich anstellen' = to queue or line up. It’s a separable, regular (weak) verb, Perfekt: angestellt, uses haben. No stem-vowel change; context determines reflexive or transitive meaning.
Examples
Er stellte sich in der Schlange an.
He stood in line.
Wir mussten uns lange anstellen, bevor das Geschäft öffnete.
We had to queue for a long time before the shop opened.
Wir haben uns angestellt.
We queued up.
Details
Mnemonics
Visualize a shop 'hiring' someone and placing them at the 'an' (start) of the staff line.
Think 'an' + 'stellen' like 'on' + 'stall' — imagine putting someone on the staff (hire).
Notes
Anstellen is separable (an-stellen). Used non-reflexively for 'hire' or 'switch on' in some contexts; reflexive (sich anstellen) means 'to queue'.